A  nice winner last night for followers.  I advised Takingitallin in the last race at Uttoxeter 8.50.  Given a good ride by William Kennedy, who set the fractions right, making all the running, the game mare found plenty over the latter stages of the race, to win quite cosily at the line.

Todays fields look pretty tough to solve.  I did think Model Guest 4.50 had found her chance to get off the mark today, she has been running in much higher classed races, including a third in a Group 3, that was last August.  She ran a good race last time in a really good race, maybe 8/13 is short, but she looks a penalty kick.

Good racing over the next few days, lots of nice horses running.

More later.

With only a few races remaining of today’s racing.  At Uttoxeter, where the ground looks in great condition for July, the final race could well go the way of the ultra consistent Takingitallin.  This mare has really taken to hurdling well from racing in Ireland in point to points.  Trainer Donald McCain seems to have his horses in decent form, and this mare who is having her first run in a handicap, likes decent ground and likes to make the running, and with her as the only proven front runner, she may well get the run of the race if left alone in front.  She has a good chance of winning this.

Looking ahead to the racing over the next few days.  The July meeting at Newmarket starts on Thursday.  Newmarket will be very busy with racing and the Tattersalls July Sales.  Some really good horses entered for the meeting, a number of horses I follow, so hopefully I can find a winner or two during the 3 day meeting.

More tomorrow.

Too Darn Hot was back to his brilliant self yesterday at Deauville in the Prix Jean Prat over the straight 7f.  He travelled supremely well under Frankie Dettori, and was a ready victor at the line.  He handled the dry ground well.  It was interesting to hear the post race comments from his shrewd trainer Joh Gosden.  He admitted he made a couple of errors running over 10f and also rushing the colt when racing him in Ireland over 8f, that was in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, where he was a good second.  I would expect this horse to be aimed at 7f graded races from now, and possibly even 6f.

Todays card’s looked tough, trying to find a winner is difficult.  I do like a couple in the final race at Windsor tonight, but it is hard to decide the right one to be with, so I will probably watch.

More tomorrow.

Reflecting on yesterday’s racing.  Enable was a cosy winner of the Coral Eclipse at Sandown.  Given a really confident ride from the front by Frankie Dettori, she was always holding Magical throughout the final stages of the Group 1 event.  She really looked as good as ever.

Frankie was in great form, Mojito 2.25 and Falcon Eight 4.45 made it a three timer for him, both rides were a pleasure to watch.  I was talking to an old friend from Godolphin last night about Frankie, he was stable jockey when we both were working for  Saeed Bin Suroor, Tony is still working for Saeed, and he said Frankie looks better than ever, of which I agreed.  Let’s hope he keeps going for a few more years yet.

On to today’s cards.  At Limerick 2.20, All The King’s Men is top rated.  In a race where a strong pace is guaranteed, it is going to be a case of who wants it most !

Honor Oak is sure to hassle All The King’s Men and Morpho Blue, another front runner in this race.  It could set the race up for a late closer, so I am going to watch, and may have a bet in running ! All The King’s Men is the horse I like, but I will watch the early part of the race, and then decide.

In France the Dettori band wagon could roll on with Too Darn Hot At 2.52, this Group 1 is over 7f, Dettori’s horse will need a decent pace to aim at, with Fox Champion the likely pace angle.  It is an interesting race, Graignes and Space Blues are improving types, the former has high level form in top races, he could well run the favourite close, he is drawn on Too Darn Hot’s inside.  I could see the race being fought out by these two, if Too Darn Hot is back to his brilliant two year old form, he may get his first Group 1 of 2019.

A decent end to the month for my subscribers, a 2.89 point (£289.00) profit for June.  It was a difficult month, a lot of rain made selections difficult.  But profit is what is most important.

On to today’s evening race meetings.  Windsor has had two races already, with drier weather over the last few days, good to firm ground will hopefully make it a nice level playing field for tonight’s runners and riders.  Tomily 6.45 drops in grade massively tonight.  If he is anywhere close to his rating, which is currently 77, he should be hard to beat.  This 5 year old was once rated as high as 102 !

More tomorrow.

Just watching some of the racing from yesterday.  I was pleased to get two winners yesterday for my subscribers, really pleased to see Al Aakif who was advised at 11/8 grind out a victory in the 2.10 at York.  To win under a 6lb penalty is never easy, but his trainer Willie Haggas had the son of Acclamation in good shape, going away from his nearest rival Clareyblue in the last half furlong, he will keep progressing, and is well worth following.  The same applies to the second, Clareyblue showed he had taken a giant step forward from his debut third at Newmarket, he will be winning soon.

Limato was advised to my followers as the horse to be with in the 3.15 at Newmarket.  He drifted out in price to 11/4 ! But that did not stop him, he battled hard in the last half furlong, to win by a neck.  Charlie Appleby won with two nice two year olds at the track.  Summer Romance who was my other horse advised to my subscribers, won pulling a cart ! She is a decent filly, and will likely step up into a Group race now.  Charlie’s other winner at the track was Al Dabaran, who looks a nice prospect going forward.

I will do an update later today.  A quick mention for Tom Marquand and his ride on Who Dares Wins at Newcastle yesterday.  He rode a really good race to beat Luke Morris on the game Dubai Fifty, who was second.  One of my each way selections Proschema, was a staying on third, at 11/1 he was a nice profit for each way bets.  The crowd at Newcastle looked huge, I always used to like riding at the track when it was all grass, as I was born in the north, Newcastle has always been what I believe as my second favourite  racecourse.  Having grown up in Newmarket, which is what I regard as home !

An excellent days racing ahead.  It is the big race in the north east today, the Betfair Exchange Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle.  With a big pot in this £150,000 added event, finding the winner is difficult.  Gibbs Hill has been well backed in the ante post market.  He has not seen a racecourse for 724 days, but his trainer Roger Varian will no doubt have him as fit as he can, the surface at the track is stamina sapping, and being a “galloping” track, Gibbs Hill has to be ready.  With regard to having a bet in it, I will be playing small stakes each way, Austrian School and Proscema are two horses that I respect, they will be my choices.

At Newmarket, I have just been talking to my great pal Paul Smith Eccles.  He is enjoying a day out with friends and family.  Paul rides out for Godolphin, and will be hoping they can have a winner or two.

I did think Limato 3.15 had a lot in his favour today, he loves the fast ground conditions, 7f is ideal as well.  He has a penalty of 5lb for his group win after 31st of August 2018, but I believe he is the best horse in the race, and will be hard to beat.

It was nice to get a winner yesterday for my subscribers.  I advised backing Milltown Star 3.20 Salisbury, my advise was bet without (Sword Beach and Atmospheric). He was even money with the two at the head of the betting market, out of the equation.   Low and behold, he drifts from 7/2-6/1 for a fixed odds win bet, he was ridden positively by Franny Norton, who had his horse more or less in front all the way, and was a cosy winner at the line.

Looking at today’s meetings, after a bit of rain earlier in the week, a number of the racecourses ground will ride on the easy side, although dry weather today could see Newmarket ride on the good side of good to soft.  The chalk based track drains very quickly.  I was at Newmarket races when Nazeef 3.50 made her debut.  She was given a kind introduction to racing that day, keeping on well in the latter stages, to finish a decent third.  She takes on the boys today, so will need to have improved for that run, she would be my idea of the one to beat in this 7f maiden event.  Her owner Hamdan Al Maktoum could have a good day.  His  Faylaq, is short odds to win the 2.45,and looks to have found another winning opportunity in this 12f handicap.  He takes on his elders today, as this race is for 3 year olds and upwards.

More later.

As a consequence of plenty of rain at Beverley and other parts of the country, numerous withdrawn horses today.  I had recommended backing one today at Beverley, who was scratched when the heavy rain fell.  I have not had a bet today as yet.  June has seen a lot of barren days for me betting wise.  With a heatwave taking place in France in some parts, hopefully we can see a dry spell for the next week or so.  Ground tomorrow needs careful consideration, punting wise!

I did think the Newbury card was worth looking at, with a lot of nicely bred types making their debuts, with good to soft ground I am watching again.  Rail Dancer 4.55 has been in good form this year.  I hope he can win again for my old pal Shaun Keightley, he is doing well since returning to training, he works very hard, and I recently bumped into him on the heath, his horses looked very healthy, and he told me he has a good team of staff, which is vital in any industry.

A late post today.  I have missed a few days of late, with a fair amount of travelling over the last few days, it has been difficult finding time !

With the 7.40 at Windsor starting in about 5 minutes, Asian Angel has drifted out to 9/4. With the support for Fox Vardy all day, who I think is too short at 11/8.  I am really tempted by Asian Angel, 9/4 is to my mind, good value, obviously he has had a long journey, he won well last Friday, and has had to travel home from Ayr.  I would think he has done very little training over the weekend, it is probably between the front two in the betting market.